Ateneo vs. UP Round One

The Dissidents
Ateneo 83 vs. UP 66
by rick olivares

“Escape is never the safest place
A dissident is here.”
- From a Pearl Jam classic

One hour before the lights went on for the first meeting between Ateneo and the University of the Philippines in Season 71 play, Raymond Austria and Mike Gamboa met in at center court and swapped stories. Minutes later, Jai Reyes and Tonino Gonzaga strolled over and exchanged high fives.

Former teammates with one of them on the opposite side of the road.

Parallel Lines
The transfer of Blue Eaglets or even Blue Eagles to Diliman is nothing new. After a disappointing 1928 season for Ateneo, swingman Joe Aldeguer transferred to State U. Unfortunately for him, the Blue and Whites won the 1929 title behind Ambrosio Padilla (who himself would later play for UP as a graduate student), Primitivo Martinez, Jess Suarez, and Oscar Galang. Johnny Schlobohm, a mainstay on the nascent Ateneo NCAA team later moved to UP where he led the Maroon and Greens to several victories over his former team. The late Emilio Bernardino played for Ateneo from Grade School up to first year college before changing campuses. There were the Arroyo brothers Bong and Bing, Len Mumar, Alfie Manlulo and two latest former AHS’ers in current UP players Mike Gamboa and Paul Sorongon.

In some ways, you can say that the two schools are joined at the hip. They were neighbors at Padre Faura and both left for the Quezon City area in the late 1940’s. The Battle of Katipunan has its origins on the pre-World War II streets of Manila where the two schools competed in the cement courts of Nozaleda Park for the Manila City Championship. And in the first ever tournament, the Blues and Whites, as the team was then known, beat the Maroon and Greens 48-18 en route to the school’s first ever basketball championship.

When the NCAA was organized, UP turned the tables on its foe by taking a few championships before Ateneo won its first title in 1929. The ironic thing about that was from 1915 to 1933, Ateneo and UP played a total of 28 games. The Blues won 19 but UP carted home most of the trophies. However, Ateneo would later emerge as the dominant power in the NCAA before rejoining its original rival in the UAAP. But the two schools, bastions of education, excellence, ideology, and activism have continued their mission of educating the country.

Dangerous Minds
Despite two straight thrashings that followed their pulsating opening weekend victory, the morale of the Maroons heading into the Saturday showdown with Ateneo remained high. They won big versus NU (14 points) and they lost even bigger against UST (19 points) and FEU (22 points). “And now we’re up against undefeated Ateneo,” dryly remarked team manager Bert Mendoza who also has roots from Loyola Heights. "Hopefully, we'll give them a fight."

First year coach Aboy Castro was a picture of calm inside the UP dugout as he caught up on his reading while the team dressed up around him. There were some quarters who wondered if he was the right person to handle the school’s Centennial team. He’s brought in with him a system and an organization to ensure that they finally have a solid program in place to take them from the road to perdition to one of redemption.

“We,” offered the coach firmly yet humbly. “have to turn a lot of people into believers. What we're trying to do is meant to work over a stretch of time. If we win now then it's great, but if not... like they say, 'It's back to the drawing board.'"

Jerry Codinera, the former UE great brought in to Diliman to coach their big men, was a picture of pragmatism. Back in his college days, his coach Roel Nadurata instructed him to rebound and defend. “Hindi na kailangan umiskor kasi we had Allan (Caidic), Boysie (Zamar), (Conrado) Barile, at marami pa,” recalled the PBA’s Defense Minister. “Kailangan ipasok namin sa minds ng mga bigs that we have a lot of scorers so importante na depensa at rebounding muna tayo. Marami pa kaming kailangan gawin.”

Dissidents. Against a wave of unbelievers.

Stand and Deliver
With the score at 37-19 for Ateneo, Ryan Buenafe drove through the forest where the last line of defense was UP’s transplanted power forward Woody Co. The former Rookie of the Year whacked the prodigious rookie on the face eliciting boos from the Ateneo crowd. Buenafe squinted and glared at Co. Obviously bothered, the former San Sebastian Stag made only one free throw.

On the return trip to their basket, Co scored on a jumper over the Ateneo rook.

Incredibly, the hard foul lit a fire under the Maroons’ pants instead. They finished the second quarter on a searing 14-5 run anchored on the hot shooting of former Ateneo Team B guard Arvin Braganza to bring down the lead to 43-33.

At the start of the season, Ateneo was given grudging respect by many quarters despite their Nike Summer League victory. Well, pre and post-UAAP tournaments are a dime a dozen so it is understandable. But as Coach Norman Black said, in the two weeks between the NSL win and the opening of the Season 71, the team had found its groove. And despite the loss of two stalwarts from last year, this year’s squad unveiled a hitherto unknown part of their arsenal… their defense. "We let it dictate our offensive opportunities," said the fourth year mentor.

Anchored by the UAAP’s Player of the Week Rabeh Al-Husseini, Nonoy Baclao, Jobe Nkemakolam, Mike Baldos, and Nico Salva, the team cranked up the defense in the third quarter, their strength since last year. With their D taking care of business, Ryan Buenafe uncorked 12 of his game-high 17 points on an assortment of kamikaze drives and freebies from the stripe, took an 18-point lead. Ateneo, in another war of attrition with UP, finally seized control of the game at 70-52 at the end of 30 minutes. The final quarter was more of a formality.

And the Ateneo Blue Eagles, the hard luck team, after all the barbs and criticisms from the unbelievers, were on top after four games 4-0. “It’s the system,” cried out Eric Salamat who finished with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. The third-year guard who's made a living by being a pest on defense added, “It’s Coach Norman’s system.”

“Wala ‘yan,” downplayed Al-Husseini after the game. “Nandito na kami dati. Malayo pa ang pupuntahan.”

Dissidents are here.

Two Roads
For UP Team Managers Jay Castro and Bert Mendoza, it was a gut wrenching win. Perhaps more correctly, it’s a win situation at another alma mater’s expense. They raised their fists nonetheless.

As for the former teammates… they shook hands and exchanged words at the middle of the court. Three went back to Loyola Heights and one at the western end of the road.

Notes: The officiating was terrible again yesterday. For both sides. Aly Yap (thanks for the photo, dude) has a series of pictures of Eric Salamat driving to the hoop where he was stripped by Mike Gamboa. The ref called it a foul. But from our vantage point there was no contact. Yes, I've tried officiating and it is really hard. But these guys are vets so you wonder how come everyone else sees it as one thing while they see it as another. I was exchanging notes with Chito Narvasa and I'm prepping something on officiating.

Dedication: This one is for Mekoy Quiogue, a great man in the broadcast business, and for the Ateneo Sports Shooters and Sherjack Siao for the camaraderie and advice they imparted yesterday. OBF!